Project description:To investigate the mechanism of TFPI2 in regulation of glioblastoma stemness, we established GSC272 cell line in which TFPI2 gene has been knocked down by shRNA. We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq.
Project description:A large portion of the genome is transcribed into non-coding RNA, which does not encode protein. Many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be involved in important regulatory processes such as genomic imprinting and chromatin modification. The 14q32 locus contains many non-coding RNAs such as Maternally Expressed Gene 8 (MEG8). We observed an induction of this gene in ischemic heart disease. We investigated the role of MEG8 specifically in endothelial function as well as the underlying mechanism. We hypothesized that MEG8 plays an important role in cardiovascular disease via epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Experiments were performed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In vitro silencing of MEG8 resulted in impaired angiogenic sprouting. More specifically, total sprout length was reduced as was proliferation, while migration was unaffected. We performed RNA sequencing to assess changes in gene expression after loss of MEG8. The most profoundly regulated gene, Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor 2 (TFPI2), was 5-fold increased following MEG8 silencing. TFPI2 has previously been described as an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Mechanistically, MEG8 silencing resulted in a reduction of the inhibitory histone modification H3K27me3 at the TFPI2 promoter. Interestingly, additional silencing of TFPI2 partially restored angiogenic sprouting capacity but did not affect proliferation of MEG8 silenced cells. In conclusion, silencing of MEG8 impairs endothelial function, suggesting a potential beneficial role in maintaining cell viability. Our study highlights the MEG8/TFPI2 axis as potential therapeutic approach to improve angiogenesis following ischemia.
Project description:HuH7 cells stably transfected with siRNA against TFPI2, MAFB, or MAFF, as well as non-targeting control shRNA were established. We showed that all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) induces TFPI2 expression through RARalpha, while MAFB and MAFF regulate this effect positively and negatively, respectively. To investigate global regulation of ATRA-induced transcription, this microarray analysis was performed with the shRNA-expressing cells following ATRA treatment.
Project description:This study aims to investigate differentially expressed proteins in tumor pericytes with or without TCAF2-ovexpression. Tumor pericytes were isolated from tumor of patients with colorectal cancer. Then, tumor pericytes were cultured, transfected with vector or TCAF2 overexpressing plasmid. Top ten cytokines were screened and Wnt5a was the most significant one.